One of Hawaii’s most endangered birds is finally going to receive the protection it desperately needs. The ‘i’iwi, or scarlet honeycreeper, was once considered one of the most common forest birds in Hawaii, who could be found across all of the major islands. Sadly, they have virtually disappeared from the islands of Lanai, Oahu, Molokai […]
Tag: hawaii
Hawaiian honeycreeper birds at risk of extinction from avian malaria
In the rugged mountain forests of Kaua’i, colorful birds called honeycreepers are dying out. Usually protected by the cooler temperatures found at higher altitudes, the birds are now victims of malaria-carrying mosquitoes that have crept upward as temperatures rise. Honeycreeper populations declined an average of 68 percent in the core of their preferred range on […]
Hawaiian crow could help us learn about evolutionary origins of tool-using behavior
There are only a handful of bird species known to use tools for foraging in the wild, and now the ‘Alalā, or Hawaiian crow, can be counted as one of them. According to a study published in the journal Nature this week, the New Caledonian crow (Corvus moneduloides), which inhabits only the main island of the […]
First hatch of critically endangered species
Six tiny nestlings at San Diego Zoo Global’s facilities in Hawai’i are being closely watched by conservation biologists. These six chicks represent hope for a small Hawaiian bird species known as the ‘Akikiki. The species is being brought into captivity to start a breeding population through a collaborative effort by the Kaua’i Forest Bird Recovery […]
From Rare Powers to Rare Species: O’ahu ‘Elepaio
The diminutive ʻElepaio (pronounced “el-a-pie-o”) had remarkable powers, according to native Hawaiians. Canoe-builders considered the bird an incarnation of their patron goddess Lea: If the bird pecked at a fallen koa tree, it was a sign that the tree was riddled with insects and unusable for boat-building. Farmers believed that this insectivorous bird was the […]
Scientists identify 137 protected areas most important for preserving biodiversity
Want to save the world’s biodiversity from mass extinction? Then make certain to safeguard the 74 sites identified today in a new study in Science. Evaluating 173,000 terrestrial protected areas, scientists pulled out the most important ones for global biodiversity based on the number of threatened mammals, birds, and amphibians found in the parks. In […]
Grins and Fins: Meet the Sociable False Killer Whale
American photographer Doug Perrine, 60, captured this priceless image of a false killer whale mid-grin off the coast of Kona, Hawaii. Less commonly known than the killer whale (or orca), the false killer whale is the third largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. Growing to 1,500 pounds and up to 20 feet long, the […]
New Film Now Available Documenting Plight of Endangered Hawaiian Birds
American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) new 30-minute film titled Endangered Hawaii, narrated by actor Richard Chamberlain, is now available for purchase on DVD. The film explores the on-going bird extinction crisis in Hawaii that has led to about 70 percent of all endemic bird species in the state becoming extinct. ABC produced the film with funding […]